Amtrak’s Gold Runner is offering special train trips to the 2026 Juneteenth Celebration at Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. The event takes place on Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors can enjoy food trucks, live music, dancing, and tours of the historic site. To help guests attend, Gold Runner is making special stops at the park and offering tickets at half price.
This trip has become very popular, growing from 97 passengers in 2018 to over 500 passengers in 2025. Chris Orlando, the head of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, said he is proud to keep this tradition alive and help more people learn about the park’s history. You can find more information about booking tickets and additional discounts on the Gold Runner website.
Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park was founded in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth, who was once enslaved. It was the first town in California founded, paid for, and run by black leaders. Today, it is a protected state park that honors the history of the families who lived there.
When you arrive at the Allensworth train station, a free shuttle provided by Tulare County Area Transit will take you from the platform to the schoolhouse in the park.
Several trains will stop at the park on the day of the event. If you are coming from the north, you can take southbound train 702, which arrives at 11:41 a.m., or train 710, which arrives at 12:41 p.m. If you are coming from the south, you can take northbound train 713 at 9:41 a.m., train 715 at 11:41 a.m., or train 717 at 2:47 p.m. To book your tickets, you can visit the Colonel Allensworth website or email Carmen Setness at the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission at [email protected].
